Blind-slat clipper.



No. 816,263. PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

S. 0. SMITH. BLIND SLAT CLIPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN G. SMITH, OF VVATSONTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

BLlND-SLAT CLIPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

Application filed June 14 1905. Serial No. 265,208.

This invention consists of a simple machine devised particularly for use in clipping or trimming the ends of blind-slats in order to facilitate introduction of such ends into the sockets or openings provided in the stiles to receive the same.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the construction of the machine, the numeral 1 designates a bedplate which carries the slat holding and cutting mechanism, said bed-plate 1 being preferably mounted upon end standards 2 or similar substantial means. The bed-plate 1 is provided at a point about intermediate its ends and upon the under side thereof with a seat 3, and transversely arranged in this seat is a feed-plate 4, said plate 4 supporting at one end thereof a transverse bar 5. The bar 5 is suitably attached to the feed-plate 4, and at the ends of the bar 5 are mounted small feed-plates 6. The bar 5 is preferably made of dovetail form in cross-section, and each of the plates '6 is provided with a dovetail socket 7, which receives the bar 5, set-screws 8 firmly attaching the members 6 thereto. The feeding members 6 are adapted to move transversely across the upper side of the bedplate 1 of the machine, so as to actuate or carry the material to the cutters provided therefor. The slats are supported upon the bed-plate 1 of the machine by means of a holder comprising spaced vertical guides 9, each guide being of approximately U form in cross-section and formed at its lower extremity with a lateral enlargement 10, bolts or similar fastenings 11 securing the enlargements 10 to the bed-plate. The bolts 11 pass through slots 12 in the bed-plate upon opposite sides of the seat 3, and as the slots 12 are arranged longitudinally of the bed plate the guides 9 may be moved toward or from each other to place the same in an adjusted position suitable for slats of different sizes. Each of the guides 9 is provided with a vertical guide-plate 13, secured to one side thereof, said plate being adjustable in order to cause the guides 9 to positively and accurately guide the slats as the latter move downwardly therein, so that slats of different widths may be accommodated by the guides 9, as found necessary in actual conditions of service. The enlargement 10 of each guide 9 is formed with an end extension 14, and

- each end extension 14 is arranged at one edge of the bed-plate 1 and carries a pair or set of cutters or knives 15. The cutters 15 consist of spaced blades attached to the extensions 14 by suitable fastenings 16, and the slats are forced between said blades in the practical use of the invention. Mounted in the supporting-standards 2 of the bed-plate 1 is a longitudinally-arranged shaft 17, having an eccentric 18 thereon operating or turning between spaced arms 19, curved downwardly from the end portions of the feed-plate 4, and said arms 19 are suitably attached to the feed-plate, as shown most clearly in the drawings. Any suitable motor may be operably connected with the shaft 12, and said shaft may have a pulley 20 at one end thereof for this purpose.

As the shaft 17 is turned the eccentric 18 in its cooperation with the arms 19, which latter are disposed with the lower extremities thereof upon opposite sides of the eccentric, will cause the plate 4 to reciprocate. In its reciprocatory movement the plate 4 carries the members 6 across the bed-plate 1, and these members 6 operate between the guides 9, so that as they are forced across the plate 1 they will eject a slat from the guides 9 and carry the same between the cutters 15, spaced from each other vertically, and the end portions of the slat will be reduced upon opposite sides thereof by the action of the cutters, which clip or trim the same in a manner which will be very evident. The guides 9 may be filled with the slats, and the same will feed to the members 6 by gravity.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- In a machine of the type described, the combination of a bed-plate provided with a longitudinal slot therein, vertical guides carried by the bed-plate, lateral enlargements at the lower ends of said guides, fastenings passing through said enlargements and the slot in the bed-plate and adjustably connecting the guides to said bed-plate, extensions projecting from the enlargements, a

. pair of cutters carried by each extension and projecting therefrom toward the space between the guides, a transversely-movable feed-plate mounted on the bed-plate between the guides, a bar mounted transversely at one end of the feeding-plate and of dovetail form in cross-section, small feeding-plates adjustable on the ends of the bar and pro vided with dovetail sockets to receive said bar, arms projecting downwardly from the bar, a shaft mounted beneath the bed-plate, an eccentric carried by said shaft and operating between the arms aforesaid to actuate the feedingplate, and means for rotating said shaft.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

STEPHEN 0. SMITH. [n s.] Witnesses:

B. F. ROTH,

JOHN A. WELSH. 

